With Article 50 set to be triggered this week, The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called for a "close working relationship with both government and our European neighbours", as the UK starts to negotiate its exit from the EU.

Berry Bros & Rudd has announced the international release of Penny Blue VSOP Rum. The release represents the first VSOP bottling from the Medine Distillery in Mauritius as part of the Indian Rum Company joint venture between Berry Bros and the Medine Distillery.

Brexit red tape could bring customs to a standstill, according to The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), and the trade body has warned that “delays and gridlocks” at UK ports will encourage the resurgence of alcohol smugglers.

Champagne sales dropped in both value and volume terms in the UK last year, driven by the fall in the value of the pound, a reduction in discounting by supermarkets and a “growing appetite” for premium-priced options, according to the Champagne Bureau (CIVC).

Britons are celebrating far too much, according to the latest sparkling wine data. A record 40 million bottles flew off the shelves in UK shops in the 12-week festive period of 2016, according to the Wine & Spirit Trade Association’s Q1 market report – a 12% increase on 2015.

More sparkling wine is making its way into our fridges, thanks to the nation’s insatiable love of fizz, but Champagne is struggling to attract any value growth, with a drop of 7% since June last year (IRI).